Patent GB-1371062-A (GB)
Title: Data card processing systems
IPC: G07B15/00
Filed: 1972-06-12
Abstract: 1371062 Public transport ticket system; coin freed apparatus BELL PUNCH CO Ltd 12 June 1972 [11 June 1971] 27462/71 Headings G4T and G4V In a pre-paid travel ricket system wherein the amount of remaining credit and details of the embarking station are read from a ticket presented at a destination station, the fare is computed and compared with the remaining credit and a barrier is opened if the remaining credit exceeds the fare, if the fare exceeds the remaining credit, the user is requested to exhibit further credit worthiness equivalent to the difference, a credit value equivalent to the fare is then stamped on the ticket, and the ticket is then operative to open the barrier when represented. Ticket vending machine (Figs. 3 and 9) includes slots for bank notes and coins, which are checked for validity and sorted, and a slot for tickets, whose printing space has been exhausted but on which some credit remains, this remaining credit being sensed in the machine. The value of the cash and/or ticket is displayed on a counter. A bonus, equal to a percentage of this value and to be added thereto, may be displayed on a bonus counter. The machine may be operable in response to the insertion of a credit card, in which case means for entering a personal identification number are also provided. Upon manual depression of a "buy ticket" button, cash inserted falls from an escrow mechanism to a cash store and the ticket is printed and magnetically encoded with the value of pre-purchased travel, details of the issuing station and vendor, and marks indicating that the ticket is for a child or "off-peak" travel if appropriate. Instead of the "buy ticket" button, a button returning all inserted cash &c. may be depressed. Buttons for "off-peak" travel, for calling assistance (e.g. if machine defective) or for child's tickets are provided, operation of the latter illuminating a sign visible to the attendant. Entry gate (Figs. 4 and 7) includes means for reading an inserted ticket to check whether the ticket has unused credit at least equal to the minimum fare, whether it is for a child, whether it is valid for the branch of public transport to which the entry gate belongs, whether it is appropriate to a "stored-fare" system, whether the last entry on the ticket was made at an exit barrier, and whether the printing space on the ticket is exhausted. The entry station is printed and magnetically encoded on the ticket. The entry gate includes a 1st class travel button, depression of which causes appropriate printing and encoding on the ticket. The time at which the ticket was presented to the entry gate is also recorded on the ticket. Redundant information is erased from the ticket. Invalid tickets are captured. A valid ticket is returned and a turnstile is freed. Exit gate (Figs. 5 and 8).-Many of the checks described above for the entry gate are made. In addition, the time recorded on the ticket at the entry station is read to check whether the passenger has been in the transport system for more than a predetermined period; if so, the ticket is deemed invalid. The fare is deducted from the credit, read from the ticket, the new credit is printed and the turnstile is freed. If the fare is greater than the credit, a signal is made directing the passenger to an  Excess fare vendor (Figs. 6 and 10). The credit is read from the ticket. The entry station is read from the ticket to deduce the fare. The difference between fare and credit is displayed. Cash inserted is counted to check that it corresponds to this difference. Ticket (Figs. 1A-1C) includes on one side areas for printing sales point number, adult/ child data, serial number, boarding station data, class of ticket, exit station data and credit balance. On the other side of the ticket, similar data in binary form is magnetically encoded.